Northern Lights Tours

Aurora Borealis spotting in Scandinavia

Scandinavia's magical Northern Lights often occupy a very lofty
spot on many people's travel goals, and with good reason. This
stunning natural phenomenon is caused by collisions between
electrically charged particles entering the earth's atmosphere from
the sun. These collisions cause a myriad of tiny bursts of light,
or photons, which make up the aurora visible to us. This natural
light show can be seen from above the magnetic poles in both the
northern and southern hemispheres, and in the north are known as
'Aurora Borealis'.

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On this remarkable adventure we explore Norway and Swedish
Lapland, journeying north far into the Arctic Circle where we seek
out the magical Northern Lights, all whilst travelling on some of
Scandinavia's most scenic railways.

The Northern Lights, or Aurora
Borealis to be precise, can appear in many different forms, from
sporadic wisps of muted colour to shimmering ribbons of bright
light. The shades visible also vary depending on the type of gas
particles that collide, but the hues are most commonly an
assortment of green, pink and violet. The subsequent kaleidoscopic
light show can last anything from a few minutes to all night long,
depending on the solar winds, which results in one of Scandinavia's
most inspiring natural treasures in a region that is very much
'powered by nature'.

Best time to see the Northern Lights

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The Northern Lights can be elusive and unpredictable, and
sightings are never guaranteed. The lights are best seen on clear,
dark nights between late August to early April. With fewer daylight
hours, winter brings greater opportunities to view the phenomenon,
with darkness falling at 6pm and lasting until 6am. It is important
to view the lights from an area with little to no light pollution,
as although the lights can occur at any time throughout the day,
the dashes of brilliant colour are often only visible with the
naked eye against a pitch black sky.

Great Rail Journeys passengers on our Northern Lights tours are
provided with the best possible conditions from which to view the
magical light show. Those travelling on the The Northern Lights
& Lapland tour journey to a quiet location in the Lofoten
Islands. The minimum light pollution here results in fantastic
conditions from which to hunt for the Northern Lights, which create
a breathtaking scene as they dance over the winter landscapes. We
also visit Bodø, a coastal city beneath the auroral oval which is
known to provide stunning views of the magical aurora on clear
nights. On the Northern Lights over Swedish Lapland tour, we enjoy
an expedition into the wilderness of the snowy tundra, where we
embark on a photography safari with an aurora photographer and
expert. Our viewpoint in the heart of Abisko National Park is
renowned as one of the best locations in the world from which to
view the aurora.

Seeing the Northern Lights is a truly unique experience. A
stunning spectacle that is never the same twice, those lucky enough
to catch a glimpse of the fantastic, surreal cascade of colours are
guaranteed to remember the experience for a lifetime.